Expendable grain car door



P 22, 1964 H. E. KEATING 3,149,664

EXPENDABLE GRAIN CAR DOOR Filed Aug. 24, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 By 9 W Arrog/ygrs.

Sept. 22, 1964 H. E. KEATING EXPENDABLE GRAIN CAR DOOR Filed Aug. 24, 1959 4 SheetsSheet 3 78 9 By 9% 9 m ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 22, 1964 H. E. KEATING 3,149,664

EXPENDABLE GRAIN CAR DOOR Filed Aug. 24, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 O O 0 O Q j 39 /4/ g I W P 38 40 I w "9% "'5' g *2 b5? A f0 m. lA/VE VTOR:

Byfl

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,149,664 EXPENEABLE GRAHN EAR 560R Henry E. Renting, 1825 Hawthorne Ave, Westchester, ill.

Filed Aug. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 535,758 9 Qlairns. (Cl. Mil-11? The present invention relates to temporary barricades, or inner doors, such as used in freight cars for handling of grain or other bulk commodities. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a novel form of expendable barricades or inner doors.

As is well known, the cars used by railroads in handling or grain or other bulk materials are of the usual type referred to as freight cars or box cars. While such cars are provided with the usual outer storm door or weather door, it has been common practice to place a suitable barricade, or inner door, in position across the door opening, on the inside of the car, in order to reduce possible loss of contents to a practical minimum, such as by leakage from the car, or inadvertent opening of the main or storm door. Such barricades, or inner doors, are usually of substantial height, and terminate a short distance from the top of the door opening so as to afford access to the interior of the car, above the barricade, for checking, inspecting or sampling the grain or other material therein.

Heretofore, such barricades, or inner doors, were made up of an assembly of wood boards or panels, either secured together as a unit for attachment, such as by nailing to the inside of the door posts, adjacent the door opening, or the boards or panels are individually nailed in place so as to build up a closure across the major portion of the height of the door opening. Because of such inner doors, or barricades, are of a temporary nature they are usually destroyed in the process of discharging the contents from the car, or become lost, such as by theft.

The more recent practice employed is to form such temporary barricades or inner doors of rather inexpensive material, such as heavy paperboard panels, together with suitable metal strapping positioned across the door opening in contact with or imbedded in the paperboard panels, and the terminal portions of the straps are nailed to the door posts on the inside of the car. To further reinforce such barricades, it has been customary to employ a wood pry board across the door opening, at the bottom thereof, and also a wood board across the door opening, adjacent the upper edge of the barricade. When a car is loaded with grain or other granular bulk material, such barricades are usually subjected to relatively high pressures from the material in the car which results in the barricade bul ing outward through the door opening. Sometimes such bulging results in rupturing of the barricade or inner door, in the normal handling of box cars or freight cars in switchyards or the like. Sometimes the pressure of the material within the car causes the barricades to bulge into direct contact with the outer storm door or weather door of the car, and thus makes it difficult for an inspector to open the storm door in order to obtain access to and sampling of the material in the car. Sometimes in the process of opening the storm door, if the barricade is bulged outwardly in contact therewith, the barricade or inner door is ruptured, resulting in a substantial loss of the contents of the car.

Because barricades or inner doors, as now constructed and employed, are not of sufiicient strength so as to preclude excessive bulging under load, and because they are not always capable of withstanding substantial shocks to which cars are normally subjected, such as occurs when the car is being shunted in switchyards and the like, substantial loss of the material from the cars frequently "ice occurs. This results in substantial damage claims being filed against the railroad.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel construction which effects great reinforcement of the barricade or inner door of the railroad car, so as to substantially eliminate possibility of the barricade or inner door being bulged outwardly into direct contact with the storm door of the car, and which will effect great reduction in inadvertent rupture of the barricade and thus reduces the possibility of loss of the bulk contents from the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide an imroved form of temporary barricade having a novel reinforcing construction which is quickly and easily assembled, which is exceptionally strong, and which tends to prevent the flexible barricade material from bulging outwardly into the car door opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction at the vertical edges of the temporary barricade to tension the material from which the barricade is constructed.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for the bottom of the barricade, which adds to its reinforcing function, which tends to prevent it from bulging outwardly, and which is capable of being secured to the box car at a plurality of points.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a new and novel connection between a pair of barricades positioned across opposite door openings of a car to assist in preventing bulging thereof and which is adjustable for cars of diiferent sizes or configurations.

It is a further object of the invention to provide reinforcement at the rolled over vertical edges of a barricade, and particularly to provide such reinforcement in a barricade formed of laminated or reinforced rollable paper or the like.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide an improved barricade construction which permits quick and easy prying of the barricade from the box car without excessive damage to the interior of the box car.

it is a very important object of the invention to provide a barricade construction which materially reduces the time of installation and which additionally saves considerable time in removal to permit cleaning out of the car.

' A still further object is to provide a novel reinforcement of the character indicated which is simple in construction, effective in use and which is capable of being economically manufactured in a manner so as to lend itself for convenient use in car door openings of varying widths.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the inside of a box car illustrating the barricades embodying the invention in place therein;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the barricade itself in a partially rolled-up position;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a pair of barricades rolled up, and ready for shipment;

FIGURE 4 is a partial view of the barricade in installed position, as it appears from the outside of the box car with the storm door open; I

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, except that it is a view from inside the car;

FIGURE 6 is a partial transverse vertical sectional view of the box car, through the door openings, with the barricades shown in vertical section;

FIGURE 7 is a detail sectional view of the fastening for the tensioning device extending between a pair of barricades, taken on line '77 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view of one barricade and a portion of the box car, taken on lines 88 of FIGURE parts being broken away;

FIGURE 9 is a horizontal sectional view through one of the tension straps and the adjacent edge portion of the barricade and a portion of the box car;

FIGURE 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line Ill-1i of FIGURE 6 parts being broken away; and

FIGURES ll and 12 are somewhat similar to PEG- URES 5 and 6, and disclose another embodiment of my invention.

Referring specifically to the construction shown in FlGURES 1 to 10 of the drawings, numeral lltl designates generally a box car of conventional construction includ ing an inner side wall 11 having a door opening 12 there in, an inner side wall 13 having a door opening 14 therein, and a bottom Wall or floor 16. The inner side walls 11 and 13, and the floor 16, are usually formed of wood or some similar material.

The novel temporary barricades include a set or pair of main expendable units, generally indicated by the numerals 17 and 18, which partially close the door openings l2 and 14- from the inside of the frei ht car, as seen in the drawings, and the standard storm doors 17a and 13a, when closed, normally extend across the entire door openings 12 and M, on the outside of the box car Till.

The barricade units 17 and 18 are essentially identical, with the exception of a horizontal reinforcing tension device which will be described hereinafter and therefore, like numerals are given to the elements of both barricades.

When a temporary barricade is to be used, there usually is employed a bottom breakable reinforcing member 19, which is sometimes referred to as a pry board because when the box car is unloaded, a ram plate head is usually forced into contact with the pry board 1%, in order to break the barriers and permit unloading of the car of its grain or other bulk material. The pry boards 19 extend across the bottom of the door openings 12 and 11.4, and the ends thereof are positioned against the inside of the inner walls or door posts of the box car, and externally of a sheet 2%) which forms the major portion of the temporary barricade unit. The pry boards are preferably secured at their ends as by nailing to inner walls or door posts of the car, and serve to cooperate with a suitable tool, such as a crowbar, for prying open the storm door. The sheet 2% is preferably formed or" heavy reinforced laminated paper, which is of course flexible. The laminated paper sheet is preferably formed with glass rovings therein to provide adequate reinforcement, and eliminate the need for steel strap reinforcements as currently used. A bendable, inturned flange or flap 21, is provided at the bottom portion of each of the sheets 2%, for seating upon the floor 16 of the box car iii, so that the bulk material contained in the box car will not readily escape therefrom, at the bottom of the door openings, when the car is in transit, and also when the storm doors 17a and 1842 are opened.

Each of the sheets 2i) is provided with a relatively rigid, vertical reinforcing member 22, which is formed of wood or other suitable material, and is preferably positioned centrally of the sheet 2%), and secured thereto by tabs 24, which are, in turn, secured to the reinforcing member 22 by nails 23 or the like, as seen in FIGURES 1, 2 and 8 of the drawings. A U-shaped bracket 25 is secured at the top of the reinforcing member 22, preferably by screws 25a, and has the inner leg of the U, spaced from the sheet 29.

A second breakable reinforcing member or board 26, is employed with each barricade unit and extends across the top of the barricade unit and is inserted between the inner leg of the U-shaped bracket 25 and the sheet 21?, as seen in FIGURE 8. The reinforcing member as extends completely across the door opening, and is forced into firm engagement with sheet 2@ by the bracket 25,

which also positions the reinforcing member 26. The bracket 25 and the reinforcing member 26 are proportioned so that it is necessary to force the reinforcing member 26 up under the bracket 25, so as to hold the reinforcing member 25 in an upright position. The reinforcing member 26 is nailed by nails 15 at its ends to the inside walls or door posts of the box car 10, as shown best in FEGURE 1.

The reinforcing board 26 also serves as a support to permit workmen, coopering the car doors, form inside the car, L0 climb out of the car, and also serves as a support for a ladder, on the outside of the car, for use by inspectors to climb into a loaded car and take samples or inspect the car contents.

A strap 27 having perforations positioned longitudinally thereof is secured to the bottom of the vertical reinforcing member 22, as best shown in FIGURE 8, and is then nailed or screwed, as indicated at 37, to the floor 16 of the box car, thus preventing the center of the barricade from being forced outwardly by the grain or other bulk material in the car, particularly at the bottom of the door opening. Screws 23 may be utilized for securing the strap 2'7 to the vertical reinforcing member 22..

One vertical edge 29 of the sheet 26 is folded around a reinforcin member 3%, formed of fiber board, wood or other suitable material, and is secured thereto by nails or staples. The other edge 32 of the sheet 2% is likewise folded over a reinforcing member 33, similar to member 3t, and is secured thereto by nails or staples in a manner similar to the edge 29. Also secured to the vertical edge 32 of sheet 2d, are metal strap 34, which extend horizontally from and beyond the edge 32;, when installed, but which are pivotally secured to the edge 32 by rivets 35, so that the straps may extend along the edge 32 when the barricade is rolled for shipment, prior to installation. Three straps 5d are provided with a plurality of perforations 36 through which nails 36:: may be inserted for securing the straps to the side wall of the box car it). By providing one edge of the sheet with the perforated straps 34, it is possible to first nail edge 2Q to the side walls of the box c-ar beyond the door posts, and then tension the sheet Ztl across the door opening and to locate the nails 36a in a position where the material of the side wall is in a firm, tensioned condition.

A reinforcing tension device preferably extends between the vertical reinforcing members 22 of the two barricade units 17 and 18, and each comprises a two section, flexible member, preferably a steel cable, 38. One of the cable sections 3%. has a member 39 secured thereto, which member 33 is provided with angular slots 4%) in one edge thereof. The other cable section 33 is provided with a loop 41 which is adapted to be secured in one of the slots 40, depending upon the width of the box car ill. Prior to filling the box car the tension reinforcing member is assembled so that it is taut. The outer ends of the cables 38 extend through the reinforcing members 22 and have a cup-shaped member 42 at their extremities which is adapted to seat in a recess 43 in the reinforcing members 22. The ends of the cables 38 are provided with collars 44 to secure the cables 33 to the cup-shaped members 42. By constructing the ends of the cables 38 and the reinforcing members 22 in this manner, likelihood of accidental breakage or pulling of the cables 38 through the reinforcing members 22 is remote. The recess 43 and the cup 42, in the reinforcing member 22, may be eliminated and the collars 44 of the cable section may be seated directly against the outer surface of the member 22, in the event it is desired to utilize the maximum strength of the member 22.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, when the sheets 26 are formed of flexible material, it is possible to roll them, starting at each vertical edge, so that rolls and 46 are formed. When the rolls are completed they will fold around the reinforcing member 22, as is best shown in FTGURE 3. Since two barricade units are used per freight car, the two assemblies are secured together, preferably by cords or straps 47, for shipment after they have been rolled as described above.

In assembling a barricade, the pry board 19 is first nailed in position, the sheet is the unrolled, and the right hand edge 29 is securely nailed to the inside side wall of the box car 10, at one side of the door opening, a substantial distance beyond the door posts. The other edge 32 is then secured to the other side of the door opening of the box car, beyond the door posts, after the sheet 20 has first been tensioned, and secured in place by nailing through one of the openings of each of straps 36, after which the left hand edge of the sheet is completely nailed to the side wall of the car. Thereafter, the upper reinforced member 26 is placed and nailed in position, the bottom flap 21 and strap 27 nailed to the floor, and the horizontal reinforcing tensioning device, including the cables 38, is assembled.

The alternate construction of my novel barricade is represented in FIGURES 11 and 12 of the drawings. These two figures correspond, in general, to FIGURES 5 and 6 of the prior construction above described. The alternate construction, while similar to the construction shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, differs therefrom in that the bracket 25 has been eliminated and the top breakable board m mber of the barricade units is secured at opposite ends directly to the inner wall of the car at opposite sides of the door opening, with the barricade units and their centrally located upright reinforcing members positioned in overlapping relation to the two breakable board members at the top and bottom of the barricade units, and by virtue of which the upright reinforcing members abut at their upper ends directly against the inner surface of the top board of the barricades, and is reinforced thereby.

As may be seen in FIGURES 11 and 12, the paper sheet of each of the main barricade units is positioned against the inner surface of the two top and bottom boards designated at 19a and 260., so that the reinforcing members for each of the sheets as designated at 22a, as well as the sheets, are positioned perpendicularly, as clearly seen in FIGURE 12. The reinforcing members 22a are reinforced at their upper ends by abutment with the top boards 26a and, if desired, the upper end of these reinforcing members 22a may be secured, as by nailing, to the boards 26a.

In assembling a barricade of this alternate construction, the pry board 19a, and the top breakable board 26a, are first nailed in position against the inside wall of the car, at opposite sides of the door opening. The barricade units are then unrolled and the right hand edge is securely nailed to the inside side wall of the car at one side of the door opening at a substantial distance beyond the door post. The other or left hand edge of the barricade unit is provided with three pro-drilled holes, located in vertically spaced relation, at positions as indicated at 42a, so that nails are inserted in these holes at an angle and are driven into the wall of the car in a manner so as to tension the sheet portion of the barricade unit and temporarily secure it in position, after which the left hand edge is completely and securely nailed in position. The bottom flap 21a of the sheet of the barricade unit, and its strap 2%, are then nailed to the floor of the car. The horizontal reinforcing tensioning device, including the cables 3811, are then assembled in proper relation.

When the box car is loaded with grain or other bulk material, it will be apparent that the expendable barr cades of both constructions above described are greatly reinforced and possess great holding power to preclude bulging of the barricade units into or through the door openings of a car. Because the sheets of the barricade unit extend a substantial distance beyond the door opening at each side in a range of approximately 16 inches, it will be apparent that when grain or other bulk material in the car exerts pressure, such pressure is transmitted to these portions of the sheets of the barricade units beyond the door openings and assist in reinforcing the barricade. The barricade is further reinforced by the nailed down bottom flaps and the reinforcing straps which are secured to the floor of the car, together with the cables interconnecting the pair of barricades in opposite door openings. In addition, the barricade is further reinforced by the vertical reinforcing members, intermediate the length of the sheets of the barricade units, which abut against or are connected to the top breakable board of the barricade.

By employing the centrally located reinforcing members, as indicated at 22 and 22a, the span of the sheet material of the barricade units constituting the closure for the door opening, for all practical purposes, is reduced to one-half, thereby reducing concentration of pressure against the sheet of the barricade unit and, further, reducing the possible extent of bulging of the sheet into the car door openings, and in this way practically assuring elimination of contact by bulging against the storm door, which will thus be free for o ening at all times.

As is Well known, if the temporary barricade bulges through the door opening into contact with the storm door too tightly, as frequently occurs with presently available barricades of this general type, grain inspectors cannot gain access to the car for obtaining the required samples, and the loaded cars must sometimes remain in loaded condition for several days before proper procedures can be completed to permit forcible opening of the storm door-with the likely rupture of the barricades and the resulting loss of grain or material from the car. Because of such delays in obtaining clearance for opening of the storm doors of cars, substantial demurrage charges accrue and greatly add to the cost of shipping.

To place applicants barricade units in operative position necessitates applying tension at three places on each unit. In presently available barricade constructions which employ metal straps or bands, it is necessary to tension each strap or band before completion of the nailing of the sheet portion of the barricade in position. In one currently available construction it is necessary to apply tension to 12 straps, and in another construction it is necessary to apply tension to 14 straps, for each barricade unit. It requires the placement of approximately 65 nails to completely cooper the sheet portions of a pair of barricade units of the present invention with respect to car door openings. Complete coopering of a door opening is accomplished in approximately 15 minutes. In presently available barricades of the type here involved it requires the use of to double headed nails to secure a pair of barricade units in full coopered relation in a car, and it requires approximately 25 to 30 minutes to accomplish such a coopering operation. It will thus be apparent that applicants novel barricade construction, in addition to possessing the numerous advantages above referred to in providing a greatly reinforced construction which reduces to a practical minimum possible rupturing of the door and loss of contents, there is effected a substantial saving in material and man hours in completion of the coopering operation of a railroad car.

In presently available barricade constructions employing steel straps or bands, such straps or hands must be severed in order to permit discharge of the contents from the car. Such an operation is time consuming and presents hazards to the workmen in that bodily injury results from contact with severed steel bands or straps. In applicants construction, in order to effect a preliminary opening in the barricade, it only requires the making of an incision in the sheet portion thereof by the use of a knife or other implement.

The steel straps or hands of the presently available barricade constructions must always be cut by hand when a car of grain or the like is to be unloaded Where an automatic unloader apparatus is not available.

The temporary barricade of the present invention is approximately 95% disposable after use. With currently used barricade constructions, the matter of disposal after use presents important problems, because the straps cannot be disposed of by burning of the used barricade, and the straps generally are not usable as junk because they first have to be properly treated for such use.

It is Well recognized that in the major portion of railroad cars currently used for handling grain or bulk material, the door posts thereof have become greatly damaged by reason of the mailings in place of currently available barricade structuresbecause it is necessary to apply nails in substantially the same identical zones each time a car is recoopered. In the present construction, considerable latitude is provided with respect to nailing of the barricade in position. Furthermore, nailing does not occur adjacent the door posts of the car.

By coopering the door openings of a car by the use of the present invention, the entire doorway opening from the top breakable board to the floor is substantially sealed and prevents loss of grain or other material through the doorway, even when the door posts have been materially damaged and partially destroyed by prior nailings in place of currently available barricades. Further, applicants construction eliminates the need for caulking around the door opening.

It is well known it is the general practice for railroads to furnish expendable barricades to the elevators so that the cost of the door, and any claims resulting from failure, must be assumed by the railroads. Likewise, any injuries caused incident to rupturing of the barricades, such as by workmen being cut by the steel bands currently used in barricades, must also be assumed by the railroads. It is Well lmown that such injuries have been substantial and, in addition, the railroads are further penalized to the extent of the loss of time of the injured workmen.

Although I have herein shown and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, manifestly it is capable of further modification and rearrangement without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. 1 do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiments herein disclosed, except as I may be so limited by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For use with a box car having an inner side wall provided with a door opening defined by a pair of upright posts and a floor: an expendable barricade removably mounted across the door opening on the interior of the car, said barricade including a first breakable member adjacent the floor of the car and extending across the door opening, a sheet of breakable material also extend ing across the door opening and having side, bottom and top edges, the bottom portion being positioned inwardly of the first breakable member, a second breakable mem ber extending across said door opening in position to register with the top of the sheet, means for fastening the vertical edges of the sheet directly to the inner wall of the car inwardly beyond the door posts, and a relatively rigid, upright reinforcing member directly connected to said sheet and having its upper end positioned in registration and supporting engagement with the inner face of said second breakable member.

2. For use with a box car having an inner side wall provided with a door opening and a floor: a unitary, expendable barricade removably mounted across the door opening on the interior of the car, said barricade including a first breakable member adjacent the floor of the car and extending across the door opening, a sheet of breakable material also extending across the door opening and having side, bottom and top edges, means for securing the bottom of said sheet to the floor of said car, including an elongated member having perforations extending longitudinally thereof, means for fastening the vertical edges of the sheet directly to the inner walls of the box ca a second breakable member extending across said door opening, in position to register with the top of the sheet, and relatively rigid, upright reinforcing means directly connected to said sheet and having its upper end positioned in registration and supporting engagement with the inner surface of said second breakable member, said elongated perforated member being rigidly secured at one end to the bottom portion of said upright reinforcing means.

3. For use with a box car having opposite inner side walls provided with a pair of oppositely arranged door openings therein defined by a pair of upright posts and a floor; a pair of unitary, expendable barricades removably mounted across the door openings on the interior of the car, each of said barricades including a first breakable member adjacent the fioor of the car and extending across the door opening and each including a sheet of breakable material also extending across the door opening, a second breakable member extending across the door opening in position to register with the top of the sheet, means for fastening the vertical edges of the sheet of material directly to the inner walls of the car inwardly beyond the door posts and beyond the ends of said breakable members, each barricade including a relatively rigid, vertical reinforcing member secured to the sheet between its vertical edges and positioned to abut against the inner surface of said breakable members, and reinforcing means extending across the car, and secured to the reinforcing members of both sheets, between the top and bottom edges of said sheets.

4. For use with a box car having opposite inner side walls provided with a pair of oppositely arranged door openings therein and a floor: a pair of unitary, expendable barricades removably mounted across the door openings on the interior of the car, each of said barricades including a first breakable member adjacent the floor of the car and extending across the door opening and each including a sheet of breakable material also extending across the door opening, means for fastening the vertical edges of the sheets of material directly to the inner walls of the car, a strap for securing the bottom of the sheet to the floor of the car, a second breakable member extending across the door opening in position to register with the top of the sheet, each barricade including a relatively rigid, vertical reinforcing member secured to the sheet between its vertical edges, said strap being secured at one end to the bottom portion of said reinforcing member, and reinforcing means extending across the car and secured to the reinforcing members of both sheets, between the top and bottom edges of said sheets.

5. For use with a box car having opposite inner side walls provided with a pair of oppositely arranged door openings therein and a floor: a pair of unitary, expendable barricades removably mounted across the door openings on the interior of the car, each of said barricades including a first breakable member adjacent the floor of the car and extending across the door opening and each including a sheet of breakable material also extending across the door opening, upright reinforcing means at the vertical edges of the sheet, means for fastening the vertical edges of the sheets of material directly to the inner walls of the car, a strap for securing the bottom of the sheet to t .e floor of the car, a second breakable member extending across the door opening in position to register with the top of the sheet, each barricade including a relatively rigid, vertical reinforcing member secured to the sheet between its vertical edges and positioned in registration and supporting engagement with the inner surfaces of both of said breakable members, and reinforcing means extending across the car and secured to the reinforcing members of both sheets, between the top and bottom edges of said sheets.

6. For use with a box car having opposite inner side walls provided with a pair of oppositely arranged door openings therein and a floor: a pair of unitary, expendable barricades removably mounted across the door openings on the interior of the car, each of said barricades including a first breakable member adjacent the floor of the car and extending across the door opening and each including a sheet of breakable material also extending across the door opening, means for fastening the vertical edges of the sheets of material directly to the inner walls of the car, a strap for securing the bottom of the sheet to the floor of the car, a second breakable member extending across the door opening in position to register with the top of the sheet, each barricade including a relatively rigid, vertical reinforcing member secured to the sheet between its vertical edges, said reinforcing member having its upper end positioned for registration and supporting engagement with the inner surface of said second breakable member, said strap being secured at one end to the bottom portion of said reinforcing member, and reinforcing means extending across the car and secured to the reinforcing members of both sheets, between the top and bottom edges of said sheets.

7. A unitary expendable barricade for box car door openings comprising a sheet of breakable and flexible material for extending across a door opening, said sheet having side, bottom and top edges, upright reinforcing means secured to each vertical edge of the sheet, and a relatively rigid, upright reinforcing member secured to said sheet, intermediate its ends; and extending vertically between top and bottom edges of said sheet, a strap for securement to the floor of the car fixedly connected to the bottom portion of the reinforcing member, said sheet being adapted to be rolled from opposite vertical edges toward said reinforcing member.

8. A unitary expendable barricade for box car door openings comprising a sheet of breakable and flexible material for extending across a door opening, said sheet having side, bottom and top edges, upright reinforcing means secured to each vertical edge of the sheet, a relatively rigid upright reinforcing member secured to said sheet, intermediate its ends, and extending vertically between top and bottom edges of said sheet, a strap for securement to the floor of the car fixedly connected to the bottom portion of the reinforcing member, and tension means comprising a cable permanently secured to the upright reinforcing member, said sheet being adapted to be rolled from opposite vertical edges toward said reinforcing member.

9. For use with a box car having opposite inner side walls provided with a pair of oppositely arranged door openings therein and a floor; a pair of unitary, expendable barricades removably mounted across the door openings on the interior of the car, each of said barricades including a first breakable member adjacent the fioor of the car and extending across the door opening and each including a sheet of breakable material also extending across the door opening, means for fastening the vertical edges of the sheet of material directly to the inner walls of the car, a second breakable member extending across the door opening in position to register with the top of the sheet, each barricade including a relatively rigid, vertical reinforcing member secured to the sheet between its vertical edges, said reinforcing member being positioned for abutting against the inner surface of said second breakable member, and reinforcing means extending across the car and secured to the reinforcing members of both sheets between the top and bottom edges of said sheets, said second reinforcing means comprising separate cable units attached respectively at one end to said reinforcing members, a member attached to the opposite end of one cable unit and having a plurality of hook features therein, the corresponding opposite end of the other cable unit being formed with a loop for selective engagement with one of the hook features of the last mentioned member, whereby to tension the barricades.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 901,035 Patton Oct. 13, 1908 2,046,488 Roth July 7, 1936 2,116,260 Corkr-an May 3, 1938 2,599,443 Ford et al. June 3, 1952 2,803,299 Gerrard et al Aug. 20, 1957 2,830,659 Gerrard Apr. 15, 1958 2,845,118 Ford July 29, 1958 2,871,936 Otto et a1. Feb. 3, 1959 2,871,937 Fullerton Feb. 3, 1959 2,915,117 Ford Dec. 1, 1959 

1. FOR USE WITH A BOX CAR HAVING AN INNER SIDE WALL PROVIDED WITH A DOOR OPENING DEFINED BY A PAIR OF UPRIGHT POSTS AND A FLOOR: AN EXPENDABLE BARRICADE REMOVABLY MOUNTED ACROSS THE DOOR OPENING ON THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, SAID BARRICADE INCLUDING A FIRST BREAKABLE MEMBER ADJACENT THE FLOOR OF THE CAR AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE DOOR OPENING, A SHEET OF BREAKABLE MATERIAL ALSO EXTENDING ACROSS THE DOOR OPENING AND HAVING SIDE, BOTTOM AND TOP EDGES, THE BOTTOM PORTION BEING POSITIONED INWARDLY OF THE FIRST BREAKABLE MEMBER, A SECOND BREAKABLE MEMBER EXTENDING ACROSS SAID DOOR OPENING IN POSITION TO REGISTER WITH THE TOP OF THE SHEET, MEANS FOR FASTENING THE VERTICAL EDGES OF THE SHEET DIRECTLY TO THE INNER WALL OF THE CAR INWARDLY BEYOND THE DOOR POSTS, AND A RELATIVELY RIGID, UPRIGHT REINFORCING MEMBER DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO SAID SHEET AND HAVING ITS UPPER END POSITIONED IN REGISTRATION AND SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER FACE OF SAID SECOND BREAKABLE MEMBER. 